SmartVault, a provider of SaaS document storage and sharing solutions, announced October 19, 2012, that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a patent for the SmartVault Toolbar. The patent recognizes the "technique" for seamlessly integrating the Toolbar within applications that do not natively support such toolbars.

The SmartVault Toolbar offers "built-in" document management functionality, allowing users to easily attach supporting documents, such as copies of checks, receipts, and invoices, directly to entries in QuickBooks. The patent gives SmartVault the exclusive right to use the claimed technique to integrate with other applications that do not already have a graphical user interface for document management technology built in natively - in the same manner as it does now with QuickBooks.

"Receiving this patent is a huge milestone for SmartVault and we are very excited," said Eric Pulaski, founder and CEO of SmartVault. "It is another indicator of how unique our document management Toolbar integration is, and how much this seamless integration adds tremendous value to the end user of that host application. Earning this patent is an amazing achievement for the SmartVault team and a proof point that underscores the innovative spirit that is core to our business. We will continue to push the creative boundaries to deliver solutions with real, tangible value to the business end user. It is what our vision is all about."

SmartVault is currently working with other developer partners to support Toolbar integration across multiple accounting system and business-critical applications.

The patent was officially issued October 9, 2012. The US Patent No. 8,286,199 was granted for SmartVault's "automated method for creating a graphical user interface [GUI] for a document management system that is visually integrated with an application having limited native GUI-integration capabilities."